1973 Pittsburgh Panthers football team

American college football season August 2023 February 2026 1973 Pittsburgh Panthers football Independent 6–5–1 Johnny Majors 1st George Haffner 1st I formation, Split backs Jackie Sherrill 1st 4–4 Pitt Stadium Fiesta Bowl L 7–28 Arizona State The 1973 Pittsburgh Panthers football team represented the University of Pittsburgh as an independent during the 1973 NCAA Division I football season. Led by first-year head coach Johnny Majors, the Panthers compiled a record of 6–5–1. At the conclusion of the season, Pittsburgh advanced to the Fiesta Bowl and were defeated by Arizona State. The team played home games at Pitt Stadium in Pittsburgh. Schedule 1973 AP Eastern September 15 2:00 p.m. t y Georgia Sanford Stadium Athens, GA 7–7 52,005 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-pittsburgh-press/35435363/ The Pittsburgh Press New-look Pitt ties Georgia, 7–7 September 16, 1973 October 26, 2023 Newspapers.com September 22 1:30 p.m. l Baylor Pitt Stadium Pittsburgh, PA 14–20 28,332 https://www.newspapers.com/article/lubbock-avalanche-journal-surprising-bea/169063824/ Lubbock Avalanche-Journal Surprising Bears upset Pitt 20–14 September 23, 1973 March 28, 2025 Newspapers.com September 29 2:30 p.m. w y Northwestern Dyche Stadium Evanston, IL 21–14 24,462 https://www.newspapers.com/article/news-journal-pittsburgh-downs-wildcats/181640622/ News Journal Pittsburgh downs Wildcats September 30, 1973 September 22, 2025 Newspapers.com October 6 1:30 p.m. l Tulane Pitt Stadium Pittsburgh, PA 6–24 25,054 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87177482/pitt-burned-by-big-play-tulane-246/ The Pittsburgh Press Pitt burned by 'big play' Tulane, 24–6 October 7, 1973 October 15, 2021 Newspapers.com October 13 1:30 p.m. w y West Virginia Mountaineer Field Morgantown, WV Backyard Brawl 35–7 37,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-philadelphia-inquirer-pitt-crushes-w/139557206/ The Philadelphia Inquirer Pitt crushes W. Virginia, 35–7 October 14, 1973 January 25, 2024 Newspapers.com October 20 1:30 p.m. w y Boston College Alumni Stadium Chestnut Hill, MA 28–14 23,219 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-pittsburgh-press-no-2-panthers-up/181640745/ The Pittsburgh Press 'No. 2' Panthers upset Boston College, 28–14 October 21, 1973 September 22, 2025 Newspapers.com October 27 1:33 p.m. w y Navy Pitt Stadium Pittsburgh, PA 22–17 33,136 https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-press-pitt-subdues-navy-2217/181588587/ Daily Press Pitt subdues Navy, 22–17 October 28, 1973 September 23, 2025 Newspapers.com November 3 1:30 p.m. w Syracuse Pitt Stadium Pittsburgh, PA rivalry 28–14 24,932 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-houston-chronicle-pitt-kicks-syracus/181586094/ The Houston Chronicle Pitt kicks Syracuse November 4, 1973 September 23, 2025 Newspapers.com November 10 1:30 p.m. l 20 Notre Dame 5 Pitt Stadium Pittsburgh, PA rivalry 10–31 56,593 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-cincinnati-enquirer-dorsett-sets-ant/181640828/ The Cincinnati Enquirer Dorsett sets anti-Irish mark November 11, 1973 September 23, 2025 Newspapers.com November 17 1:30 p.m. w y Army Michie Stadium West Point, NY 34–0 33,264 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-patriot-news-dorsett-dances-pitt-to/181585210/ The Patriot-News Dorsett dances Pitt to Fiesta November 18, 1973 September 22, 2025 Newspapers.com November 24 1:30 p.m. l y 20 Penn State 6 Beaver Stadium University Park, PA rivalry 13–35 56,600 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-wichita-eagle-penn-state-rallies-to/181640917/ The Wichita Eagle & Beacon Penn State rallies to punish Pitt November 25, 1973 September 23, 2025 Newspapers.com December 21 8:00 p.m. l y Arizona State 10 Sun Devil Stadium Tempe, AZ Fiesta Bowl Mizlou 7–28 50,878 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-pittsburgh-press-fiesta-time-a-big-d/156796003/ The Pittsburgh Press Fiesta time a big disappointment December 22, 1973 October 8, 2024 Newspapers.com Schedule/Results (1973 Pittsburgh) https://stats.ncaa.org/teams/363967 National Collegiate Athletic Association NCAA Statistics September 23, 2025 Game summaries Penn State 1973 Penn State Nittany Lions football team collapsed Penn State vs. Pitt Saturday, November 24, 1973 #20 Pitt 0 13 0 0 #6 Penn State 3 0 8 24 Beaver Stadium • University Park, PA 56,600 First quarter PSU — Chris Bahr 40-yard field goal Second quarter Pitt — Tony Dorsett 14-yard run (Carson Long kick) Pitt — Carson Long 31-yard field goal Pitt — Carson Long 50-yard field goal Third quarter PSU — Bob Nagle 1-yard run (Hayman pass from Shuman) Fourth quarter PSU — John Cappelletti 5-yard run (Bahr kick) PSU — Tom Hull 27-yard interception return (Bahr kick) PSU — Chuck Herd 32-yard pass from Tom Shuman (Bahr kick) PSU — Chris Bahr 45-yard field goal Pittsburgh Pitt Penn State PSU Billy Daniels 5/19, 122 Yds, 2 INT Tony Dorsett 20 Rush, 77 Yds, 1 TD Tom Shuman 7/17, 96 Yds, 1 TD John Cappelletti 37 Rush, 161 Yds, 1 TD Chuck Herd 1 Rec, 32 Yds, 1 TD Penn State overcame a 13–3 halftime deficit with a dominant second-half performance to defeat Pittsburgh 35–13 on November 24, 1973, before 56,600 fans at Beaver Stadium. The Panthers controlled much of the first half behind freshman Tony Dorsett, who scored on a 14-yard touchdown run and finished with 77 rushing yards. Pitt also added two field goals by Carson Long while limiting the Nittany Lions to a single Chris Bahr field goal before intermission. Penn State's defense turned the game in the third quarter, holding Pittsburgh to just 15 yards and no first downs in the period. Penn State narrowed Pitt's lead to 13-11 when Fullback Bob Nagle scored from 1 yard out and Hayman added the 2-point conversion on a reception. John Cappelletti put Penn State ahead for good on 5-yard touchdown and the game was sealed when Linebacker Tom Hull tallied a 27-yard interception return for a touchdown. Cappelletti, a leading Heisman Trophy candidate, rushed for 161 yards on 37 carries and was named the game's outstanding player. The victory capped an undefeated 11–0 regular season for Penn State and secured its bid to the Orange Bowl. White Gordon S. Jr. November 25, 1973 Stubborn Pitt Bows, 35–13 https://www.nytimes.com/1973/11/25/archives/stubborn-pitt-bows-3513-77-yards-for-dorsett.html The New York Times https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-wichita-eagle-penn-state-rallies-to/181640917/ The Wichita Eagle & Beacon Penn State rallies to punish Pitt November 25, 1973 September 23, 2025 Newspapers.com Personnel Roster 1973 Pittsburgh Panthers f 76 Sr Dave Wannstedt T y Jr Gary Burley DT y 75 Sr Glenn Hyde DT y 85 So Tom Perko DE y *Johnny Majors Coaching staff 1973 Pittsburgh Panthers football staff Coaching staff Johnny Majors – Head coach Jackie Sherrill – Assistant head coach/defensive coordinator George Haffner – Offensive coordinator Joe Avezzano – Offensive line Jim Dyar – Defensive line Larry Holton – Defense Harry Jones – Offensive backs Bob Leahy – Head Freshman Coach Joe Madden – Defensive secondary Bob Roper – Receivers Bob Matey – Freshman Defensive Line Keith Schroeder – Scouting   Support staff Albert Smith – Executive Assistant Director of Athletics Team players drafted into the NFL 2 Pittsburgh Panthers Player Position Round Pick NFL club Rod Kirby Linebacker11278 Buffalo BillsJim Buckmon Defensive end 12 295 New Orleans SaintsDave Wannstedt Tackle15376 Green Bay Packers https://www.pro-football-reference.com/draft/1974.htm dead https://web.archive.org/web/20071221162001/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/draft/1974.htm 2007-12-21 1974 NFL Draft Listing - Pro-Football-Reference.com References Pittsburgh Category:Pittsburgh Panthers football seasons Pittsburgh Panthers football Category:1973 in Pittsburgh Category:Long stubs with short prose